Dissolution

I am now confined here by another of Cromwell's commissioners, a grim-faced hunchback. I tell you this story now in the hope you may use it against Cromwell, that tool of the Antichrist. The people hate him and will hate him more when this is known.

I crumpled the paper in my hand. 'How did he get out?'

'He disappeared after Prime and I came looking for him. Meanwhile our good Bugge was visited by this boy from the poorhouse, saying he had come to fetch a message from one of the monks. Bugge was suspicious and wouldn't let him in.' The gatekeeper nodded in satisfaction, grinding his knuckles into the urchin's collar. He had ceased his struggles and was staring in astonished terror at Jerome lying on the snow.

'Who sent you here?' I asked him.

'A servant brought a note, sir,' he answered tremulously, 'asking me to take a letter for the London post.'

'I found this on him,' Bugge said. He opened his free hand, which held a gold ring.

'Yours?' I asked Jerome. He turned his head away.

'Which servant, boy? Answer, you are in serious trouble.'

'Mister Grindstaff, sir, from the kitchen. The ring was to pay me and the post coach.'

'Grindstaff!' the prior snorted. 'He takes Jerome his food, he's always been against the changes. I'll put him out on the road tonight – unless you'd take harsher measures, Commissioner?'

I shook my head. 'Make sure Jerome is kept locked in his cell all the time. You should not have let him out for services – see what has come of it!' I turned to Bugge. 'Let the boy go.'

Bugge hauled the urchin to the gate and shoved him out on the road with a cuff.

'Get up, you,' Prior Mortimus snapped at Jerome.

He tried to struggle up, but fell back. 'I can't, you unchristian churl.'

'Help him,' I ordered Bugge. 'Lock him in his cell.' The gatekeeper hauled Jerome to his feet and led him roughly away.

'Cromwell has many enemies!' Jerome shouted at me over his shoulder. 'His just end will come!'

I turned to the prior. 'Have you an office we can go to?'

He led me through the inner cloister to a room with a warm fire. A jug of wine stood on a paper-strewn desk and he poured us each a cup.

'Is this the first time Jerome has disappeared after a service?'

'Yes. He is always watched.'

'Is there any chance he could have sent another letter out before today?'

'Not since he was confined, the day you came. But before – yes.'

I nodded, biting a fingernail. 'He must be guarded closely from now on. This letter is a serious matter. It should be reported to Lord Cromwell at once.'

He gave me a calculating look. 'Would ye perhaps tell Lord Cromwell that a monk loyal to the king stopped the letter going?'

'We'll see.' I looked at him coldly. 'There was another matter I wanted to discuss with you. Orphan Stonegarden.'

He nodded slowly. 'Aye, I'd heard questions were being asked.'

'Well? Your name has been mentioned.'

He shrugged. 'Even old celibates get lusty. She was a fine-looking girl. I tried to get her to romp with me, I'll not deny it.'

'You who are charged with keeping discipline in this house, and told me yesterday that discipline is all that keeps the world from chaos?'

He stirred uneasily in his chair. 'A tumble with a warm girl's a different matter from unnatural passions that rot the relations monks should have with each other,' he said sharply. 'I'm not perfect, nobody is except the saints and not all of them.'

'Some would say, Prior Mortimus, those words make you a hypocrite.'

'Oh come, Commissioner, aren't all men hypocrites? I wished the girl no harm. She rejected me quickly enough, and that old pederast Alexander reported me to the abbot. I felt sorry for her afterwards,' he added in a quieter voice, 'drifting about the place like a wraith. I never talked to her again, though.'

'Did anyone take her by force, that you know of? Goodwife Stumpe believes someone did.'

'No.' His face darkened. 'I wouldn't have stood for that.' He let out a long breath. 'It was bad, seeing her yesterday. I knew her at once.'

'So did Goodwife Stumpe.' I folded my arms. 'Brother Prior, your fine feelings amaze me. I can hardly believe this is the same man I saw kick a cripple not half an hour ago.'

'A man's place in the world is hard, a monk's most of all. He has obligations set by God, and fierce temptations to resist. Women – they're different, they deserve a peaceful life if they behave. Orphan was a good girl, not like that malapert Guy has working for him now.'

'She too had an approach from you, I hear.'

He was silent a moment. 'I wasn't fierce with her, y'know. Orphan. When she turned me away I didn't press her.'

'But others did. Brother Luke.' I paused. 'Brother Edwig.'